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The Seventh Seal: My Review

posted 11 years ago by FireBack
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It goes without saying that Ingmar Bergman was a master at character development. The man had a knack for placing his characters in compromising situations, having them endure bouts of angst and misfortune, often resulting in bittersweet conclusions. The Seventh Seal is no exception to his brilliant existentialist take on humanity, and it is here I believe Bergman delves deepest into man’s quest for purpose.

The film opens with a passage from the Book of Revelation denoting the beginnings of the apocalypse, spoken by the knight, Antonius Block, who is arriving back home from a ten year Crusade. Shortly thereafter, he is not only confronted by the personification of Death, but also discovers that his homeland of Sweden has been crippled by the plague. In an attempt to reprieve himself from Death, the knight proposes a chess match against Death itself that will hopefully – if won – spare him from the threat of dying.

What is interesting to take note of is that this is no ordinary game of chess; Block eventually leaves the game after a short period to continue his mission in plague-ridden Sweden. However, he hasn't really left the match at all; Death intends for Block's decisions and revelations to serve as his moves on the chess board. The primary theme of Seventh Seal is death, and of course doubting one's faith prior to death. The story initially begins with two characters, the knight and his squire, who have spent ten wasted years away from home, only to return and find their land ravaged by death. This is a blow to the knight’s spirituality, as indicated by his relentless uncertainty of God’s existence. His excessive questioning gets him nowhere. Upholding his faith in God only becomes a torment, “It is like loving someone who is out there in the darkness but never appears, no matter how loudly you call.” He is ultimately abandoned in his quest for truth.

As the story progresses, Bergman incorporates a number of various characters into the plot: a happily married couple of actors and their lustful manager, a love-struck blacksmith and his promiscuous wife, and a seemingly mute servant girl. The most fascinating of these diverse characters would have to be the carefree married actors, not only because they provide an inkling of hope for humanity, but because they remain resilient through the pestilence and despair that has shadowed Sweden. The knight revels in their content and even benefits from it by proxy during his chess match with Death. One of the most poignant scenes in the film occurs when the pilgrimage decides to enjoy a tranquil picnic in the midst of the plague. The scene, simple, yet effective, resonates with the knight so profoundly that he promises to cherish the memory forever.

If anything can be taken from The Seventh Seal, it is the notion of how truly terrifying it is to believe that nothing – neither heaven nor reincarnation – awaits us after death, and Bergman powerfully embeds this horror into such an accessible story. It almost unfolds like a children's book with its slapstick situations and comedic dialogue. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet simultaneously sends us a message that leaves a lasting impression.

http://lostfischer.blogspot.com - The Last Metro

[–] kenny-164 11 years ago

Fireback,

You said "If anything can be taken from The Seventh Seal, it is the notion of how truly terrifying it is to believe that nothing – neither heaven nor reincarnation – awaits us after death..."

I think I understand why you said that, but I think in fact the film does not take a position on what awaits us after death. In fact at the very end of the film we see Block and his group being led across a field by Death. I interpret this to mean they are already dead, and yet they still exist. By no means do we take from this any understanding of what the afterlife might consist of, and I would not think to suggest that the Seventh Seal does. And it is true that what we "see" is actually being visioned by Josef. Are his visions of anything "real"? But neither does the film come out and say what you claim it does.

We also have Josef's earlier vision of what is apparently the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. I have seen this film several times and do not see any basis for saying Josef is supposed to be viewed as making it up, or crazy. In fact Block's own ability to see and talk to Death is not shared by anyone other than Josef. If we are to accept that Block himself "really" is talking to Death, then the fact that Josef eventually sees Block playing chess with Death instead leads one to say Josef and Block in fact have the ability to see visions in common.

Earlier in the film we have the famous discussion between Block and Death about God's silence. Block in effect says if any entity other than God Himself could enlighten Block on his questions, Death it would seem would be able to (the "logic" of this notion is not hard to understand). And yet there is no reason to think that Death feels he must answer Block's questions accurately. By definition and as portrayed here Death is a pitiless force, unmoveable and irrevocable. It is not Death's role to remove doubts about God and life's purpose.

Death's own lack of answers for Block cannot be taken to support the quote.

Now, despite my having said all that, perhaps (although I do not think so!) I have misread your quote, and what you really meant to say is that Block himself is representative of what happens if one fails to find comfort in answers to his questions. Hm. I don't think that is what you are saying.